Survey says that cockroaches have met their match

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October 2, 2024

Photo: Wasan Tita / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Photo: Wasan Tita / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Anyone who has attempted cockroach control knows how resilient they are. What other pest could survive for weeks without its head? Thanks to respiratory openings on their bodies that enable them to breathe, cockroaches are built to survive for a while, anyway, according to a University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences post titled, “Will Cockroaches Outlive Humans?” Spoiler alert: Not if pest management professionals (PMPs) have their way.

Illustration: Denys / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

Illustration: Denys / iStock / Getty Images Plus / Getty Images

So, it’s no wonder cockroach control is a revenue generator for the PMPs who offer the service. Because nobody wants to come home to cockroaches, Pest Management Professional’s (PMP’s) 2024 Cockroach Management Survey shows customers call in the pros to eradicate an infestation.

Single-family homes are the top type of account PMPs service when providing cockroach control, with apartments and multi-family housing facilities following close behind.

Although the top obstacle for those who answered the survey is do-it-yourself (DIY) products, PMPs have the training, tools and strategies to manage these persistent pests. Indeed, 83 percent of readers who answered PMP’s survey say they expect the number of cockroach control jobs to increase, which is more than the 73 percent who said so last year.

This year, 82 percent of those asked expect a bump in their cockroach management revenue, a 9 percent rise over last year’s response. In addition, 75 percent say the number of cockroach management jobs increased, a 17 percent jump over the previous year.

As for what’s driving the surge in business, the survey shows referrals and repeat business top the list. PMPs who offer excellent service and train their technicians and customer service representatives properly and regularly can count on satisfied customers to offer recommendations to friends, family and neighbors.

Another way to attract customers is to ask for their business. “Nothing beats stopping into new establishments — restaurants, hotels, apartment complexes, factories — and introducing yourself,” says Doug Foster, president of Columbus, Ind.-based Burt’s Termite & Pest Control and a PMP Editorial Advisory Board member.

Cockroaches can be conquered and are no match for PMPs with a winning strategy.


Most-requested Cockroach Management Service Frequency

  1. Monthly
  2. Quarterly
  3. Weekly

Top 3 Cockroach Management Drivers

  1. Repeat business and referrals.
  2. Increased awareness of public-health risk.
  3. Control solutions are more effective today.

Top 3 Cockroach Management Obstacles

  1. Do-it-yourself (DIY) products.
  2. Educating home and business owners and municipalities on related public-health risks.
  3. Fierce pricing competition.

Profitability by Account Type

  1. Single-family homes
  2. Apartments & multi-family housing
  3. Food-processing plants & warehouses
  4. Restaurants
  5. Resorts & hotels
  6. Healthcare facilities
  7. Schools & daycare centers
  8. Planes, trains & buses

About the Author

Headshot: Diane Sofranec

Diane Sofranec is the senior editor for PMP magazine. She can be reached at dsofranec@northcoastmedia.net or 216-706-3793.

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